Thermal responsive actuating closure device



W. A. LEBUS March 31, 1953 THERMAL RESPONSIVE ACTUATING CLOSURE DEVICE Filed June 15, 1949 Patented Mar. 31, 1953 THERMAL RESPONSIVE ACTUATING CLOSURE DEVICE William A. Lebus, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Protectoseal Company, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application June 13, 1949, Serial No. 98,823

(Cl. 22o- 89) Claims.

My invention belongs to the class of controlling or actuating devices and relates particularly to a thermal responsive actuating device of the kind described which is simple, inexpensive, emcient, durable and which may readily reset after the same has operated,

Particularly it has as an object the production of a spring actuated member or rod, for use wherever found applicable, having a fusible element for normally restraining the spring when under compression but permitting it to function in the event the fusible element becomes fused.

Another object is to provide reliable quick acting means for closing a closure or cover, a door or the like or to throw a switch, etc., in case of abnormal heat such as a re adjacent the device. In its present form, as illustrated, it is designed to close a drum or receptacle cover in case of re in or near the drum.

A further object is to provide an actuating device which is of simple construction and eiiicient in operation in which the fusible element is readily replaceable in case it becomes fused. The construction is such that the fusible element may be replaced in a few minutes time without tools and without any particular skill of the one replacing the same. Other than replacing the fusible element none of the other parts of the device need to be replaced or modified. After the same has operated under the influence of heat it may be reset by merely restoring the assembly and replacing the fusible element.

Among other objects is the production of a simple and dependable device for effectively securing the closure or cover and associated parts to an open ended receptacle, for example, an oil drum from which the drum end has been removed, making the drum suitable for the storing of paints, oils or other inflammable materials. When so used, and my closure is employed, in the event of ignition of the drum contents. the closure is instantly and automatically closed.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a drum with a portion broken away and a cover showing the application of my thermal responsive actuating device applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental central vertical section through the cover, its support and the actuating device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail central vertical section through a fragment of the controlling device; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 of Fig, 3.

Referring to said drawing which is merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention applied to a drum closure or cover 5, the reference character 6 designates a container, such as an open ended drum for containing paint, grease, oil or other commodity. The original covers of such drums are very securely fastened t0 the drums and in order to remove some of them they have to be forcibly removed and are often damaged when being removed or in some cases they are cut away from the drums and become useless as covers.

Substitute covers if obtainable which may be applied to the drums replacing the original covers are not self closing, and may often not be used or promptly applied to the drum. In the present instance the cover 5 as illustrated is hinged, as by a hinge l, to a bracket 8, welded or otherwise secured to a split ring 9, clamped upon the side wall of the drum by a bolt and nut I0 or the equivalent. The leaves of the hinge I may be spot Welded or otherwise rigidly secured respectively to the cover 5 and bracket 8.

To prevent the split ring from sagging at the place where it supports the cover when the cover is open, a hook I I is provided which is spot welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the bracket 8 and engages over the curled edge I2 of the drum thereby taking the weight of the cover, when open, from the split ring. It will be noted that the hinge pin is spaced outwardly the top edge of the drum.

The actuating device forming the subject matter of this specification is designated generally by the reference character I3. The device is provided with a carrier or supporting means here shown in the form of a tube I4, Welded or otherwise rigidly secured at its upper end to the cover 5. The supporting means further includes a cap I5 secured upon the lower end of the tube I4 as by a threaded connection thereto.

Extending lengthwise through the tube I4 is a push rod or movable member I6, guided at one end in a head I1 secured in the tube, the rod being secured at its other end to a sleeve I8 as by a threaded connection therewith. In the rod is a shoulder I9 which may comprise a collar adjustably mounted on the rod as by a threaded connection therewith which provides an abutment for one end of a coiled compression spring 20, the other end of which abuts against a wall 2i of the cap I5. When assembling the device, the collar I 9 is screwed down onthe rod thereby compressing the spring and placing it under great pressure.

For restraining the spring from expanding under` normal conditions and forcing the rod toward the head I1, a fusible element 22 such as a sleeve composed of solder or the like having a relatively low melting point may be used. The fusible sleeve 22 is cast or otherwise formed around the outer end of the sleeve I8 and if desired the sleeve I8 may be formed with annular ribs or beads 23 on the lower portion of its cylindrical face in order that the fusible sleeve may obtain a firm grip thereon.

To prevent relative rotation` between the cap I and sleeve I8, the fusible sleeve 22 has an interlocking connection with the cap I5, here shown as comprising tongues 24 which engage in notches 25 formed in a reduced portion 25 of the cap I5. The purpose of the interlocking connection between. thei cap` and sleeve isV to enable a person to grasp thelarger cap when screwing the rod IIifonto the sleeve I8, the interlockbetween the cap and sleeves 22 preventing thefusiblef sleeve and therewith the sleeve I8 from-turning relative tothe cap.

After the rods and associated parts are assembled and the spring hasbeen compressed, the rod, spring `and collar are inserted into the tube I4 and the cap I5 isscrewed upon the threaded end of the tube I4. When used in connection witha cover, the tube I4 vis welded or otherwise rigidly securedtothe cover. When used in connection with any other article the tube is fastened thereto in an appropriate manner.

After the original contents of the drum have been removed, the drum is usable to hold waste material, particularly oily or greasy materials. When used on a drum cover, when the cover is raised to open position, the protruding end of the rod abuts against the bracket 8`as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and remains open until closed. Now in case of fire of the contentsof the drum, the. temperature of the fusible element is raised, and because of its. low melting o point, it fuses and falls from the sleeve I8, and the latter beingreleased from the fusible sleeve, the restraint on the spring being removed, the latter is free to expand and move the rod outwardly, and inasmuch as the' free'end' of the rodis in abutting engagementwith the fixed vor stationary bracket, the spring in expanding quickly pushes the tube I4 and therewith the cover away from the bracket whereupon the closing movement of the cover carries it past its center of gravity and it falls upon thevdrum thereby smothering the fire therein. When the rod is Yreleased the nut or collar engages the endV I'I of the tube, and the rod `is therebyvprevented from being shot out of the tube. The pressure of the spring being relieved by-the operatiomthe cap l5 may be readilyunscrewed, the rod removed, the nut or collar on the rod moved back, the cap I5 is applied to therod and a new sleevel I8 with a fusible element applied to ther-end of the-rod. After thus assembling the rod,l thespringis put under tension by the adjustment of nutv I9. The assembly may now be completed bypushing the same kinto the tube and screwing the cap I5 on the same.`

There are situations when the tube I4 may be fastened to a stationary object, and the rod engaged with a movable object whereby when the fusible element is melted the spring projects the rod partly out of the supporting means and therewith moves the movable objct.

From the above it is apparent that I have provided a thermal responsive actuating device which is very efficient in operation and is usable not only on drum covers but on many other objects.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious'that various immaterial modifications may be made in the'same Without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim and desirevto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure member for receptacles, in combination with means for hingedly securing said closure to a receptacle, a stop for limiting the opening movement of the closure, means cooperating with said stop for movingA theclosure away from said stop a distance whereby the closure will drop by gravity, said means comprising a tubular supporting, member secured on the under side of the'closure, a push rod threaded intermediate its ends arranged within said tubular member with one'end projecting through the top of the closure, a removable cap arrangedat the inner end of said tube, a sleeve secured on the opposite end of said rod and slidable in the cap, a fusible nut arranged on said rod at the sleeve at the outer side of the cap, Ya spring arranged within the tubular support, one endbearing against said cap, a nut arranged on the threaded shank intermediate the ends of the rod at the opposite end of the spring.

2. In a closurel member for receptacles and in combination, means for hingedly securing said closure to a receptacle, a stop for limitingthe opening movement of the closure, means cooperating with said stop for moving the closure away from saidV stop a distance whereby the closure will drop by gravity, said means comprising a tubular supporting. member arranged and secured on the under side of the closure, a threaded push rod slidably arranged within said tubular memberand projecting through the top of the closure, a cap arranged at the inner end of said tube, a sleeve secured on the inner end of said rod and slidable in the cap, a fusible nut arranged on said sleeve lat the outer Vside of the cap, means for preventing relative rotation of the fusible nut and cap, a springv arranged within the tubular support, one end thereof bearing against said cap, a nut arranged on the threaded shank of the rod at the opposite end of the spring forengaging the end thereof.

3. In a closure device for removable attachment to open-ended drums, a split ring adapted to be placed around a drum adjacent'the open end thereof, means for securingthe ringtosuch a drum, a closure member hinged tosaid ring. a member carried by said ringand outwardly offset from the pivotal axis of such closure member and forming a stop engageable with the closure member when the latter is in its open position with its center of gravity positioned outwardly beyond the axis of its hinged connection with said ring, operative to support theclosure member in such open position, a plunger carriedby said closure member, the outer end of said plunger being aligned and engageable with said stop, spring means operatively related to said plunger and closure member for moving said plunger in a direction toward said stop to push the closure member in a closing direction beyond its center of gravity whereby the closure may drop to its closed position, and fusible means for normally retaining said plunger in a non-operative position in opposition to the forces exerted therein by said spring means.

4. In a closure member for receptacles and in combination, means for hingedly securing said closure to a receptacle, a stop for limiting the opening movement of the closure, means cooperating with said stop for moving the closure away from said stop a distance whereby the closure will drop by gravity, said means comprising a tubular supporting member arranged and secured on the underside of the closure, a push rod slidably arranged within said tubular member and projecting through the top of the closure in alignment with said stop, a cap arranged at the inner end of said tube, a fusible member operatively engaged with said push rod and said cap at the outer side of the latter to normally retain said push rod in a retracted position in said tubular member, a spring arranged within the tubul-ar member, one end thereof bearing against said cap, and a stop arranged on the intermediate portion of the push rod shank engaged by the opposite end of the spring whereby the latter is under compression when the plunger is in such retracted position.

5. In a closure member for receptacles, and in combination, means for hingedly securing said closure to a receptacle, a stop for limiting the opening movement of the closure, means co.- operating with said stop for moving the closure away from said stop a distance whereby the closure will drop by gravity, said means comprising a supporting member arranged and secured on the underside of the closure, a push rod slidably supported by said member and projecting through the top of the closure in alignment with said stop, a fusible member operatively engaged with said push rod and said member to normally retain said push rod in a retracted position relative to said member, a spring one end of which is operatively carried by said closure in relatively fixed relation with respect thereto, and a stop arranged on the intermediate portion of the push rod shank engaged by the opposite end of the spring whereby the latter is energized when the plunger is in such retracted position.

WILLIAM A. LEBUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

